This weekend’s Compass Taichung International Food and Music Festival aims to give visitors a feast for their taste buds and ears. The event starts tomorrow and runs through Sunday on Taichung’s Art Museum Parkway (美術綠園道). In case of inclement weather, the organizers have prepared large tents with tables and chairs underneath.
Now in its eighth year, the festival was founded by Compass, a monthly bilingual guide that covers Taichung and other cities in central Taiwan.
“In one weekend, people can sample all the different cuisines that Taichung has to offer and at the same time sample all the kinds of live music, too,” festival organizer Douglas Habecker says.
Over 60 booths will sell an international array of edibles, including Spanish, Italian, German, Indian, American, Mexican and Taiwanese food. Libations include smoothies, cocktails and Taiwan Beer, a festival sponsor.
Many of the dining establishments participating this year have rented two or more booths in order to set up small bars or “mini-restaurants” that will give patrons a chance to sit and savor their food. Other vendors will offer items ranging from Nepalese handicrafts to art.
This year’s festival features 18 live music acts, with a mixture of foreign and Taiwanese musicians representing genres ranging from classic rock and jazz fusion to blues and reggae.
“We want to bring a broad spectrum of musical styles to the event, so people can say, ‘Wow, there are all these different types of music and all these different bands and they are right here in Taichung,’” Habecker says.
For the second year, the festival will also include a fashion show, which will start at 4pm tomorrow and feature designs by staff and students from Hungkuang University (弘光科技大學). This year’s theme is weddings and the show will include gowns based on traditional Chinese, Japanese and Korean attire.
WHAT: Compass Taichung International Food and Music Festival
WHEN: Tomorrow and Sunday from 1pm to 9:30pm
WHERE: Art Museum Parkway, Greater Taichung (台中市美術綠園道), between Wucyuan West 3rd and Wucyuan West 4th streets (五權西三街和五權西四街) and Wucyuan 5th and Wucyuan 7th streets (五權五街和五權七街)
ADMISSION: Free
ON THE NET: www.taiwanfun.com
Music lineup
Tomorrow
1pm: Nick Fothergill
2pm: Native Space
3pm: San Jiao Mao
4pm: Mike Mudd and The Silence
5pm: Dirty Skies
6pm: Moss
7pm: Three Day Bender
8pm: .22
9pm: Dr Reniculous
Sunday
1pm: Andy Goode
2pm: Reigndear
3pm: 2 Acres Plowed
4pm: The HandKnife Club
5pm: The Ever So Friendlies
6pm: Reider
7pm: The Briegel Brothers
8pm: Zion Rising
9pm: Wailin’ Soul
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